International Influence: 10 Power Men in Africa to Follow on Twitter

Whether you’re stateside or abroad, social media has made our world a lot smaller. Last week’s Social Media Week (SMW) events and conversations, many of which took place on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, to name a few platforms, are proof that geographic borders can’t contain the flow of ideas in the digital age.

With the dust slowly settling on SMW Lagos, which made its debut in Africa last Monday, BlackEnterprise.com is highlighting power men in Africa who have made a sizeable social impact. These men were selected for their influence and position in their respective industry, relevance within their field or due to their promising future.

From motivational leaders and businessmen to a rapper or comedian, these 10 power men should be on your Twitter list:

Obi Asika

CEO of Storm 360

Nigeria

Twitter Handle: @obiasika

Followers: 28,895 Followers

Obi Asika is a creative industries entrepreneur with a particular focus on content production and distribution, technology and broadcast media. Widely respected as the CEO of Storm 360, one of Nigeria’s leading entertainment companies, he also serves on the board of companies across industries ranging from infrastructure, oil, gas, power and real estate. He is a founding partner of Dragon Africa Associates, a strategic communications firm based in London, Lagos and Accra. Recognized as one of Nigeria’s visionary risk takers, Obi is the brainchild behind the success of Social Media Week Lagos. Nigeria became the first African country to host this global event.

Fela Durotoye

Development Consultant

Nigeria

Twitter Handle: @feladurotoye

Followers: 27,615

One half of Nigerian power couple Fela and Tara Durotoye, Fela is a leadership development consultant, and arguably Nigeria’s most sought after transformational speaker. He’s widely recognized as one of Nigeria’s most respected voices for change, personal leadership and national transformation. Fela is the CEO of Gemstone Group, which consists of the Gemstone Nation Builders Foundation and Gemstone Development & Management Ltd. aimed at “raising a Generation that is Empowered, Motivated & Stirred To Operate with Natural Excellenceâ€. Fela has consistently used social media to fulfill his life’s mission of building leaders of excellence in Nigeria. In addition to his Twitter followers, he has over 173K fans on Facebook.

Trevor Noah

Entertainer

South Africa

Twitter Handle: @Trevornoah

Followers: 717,584

Trevor Noah is a stand-up megastar in his native South Africa where he exploded onto the entertainment scene just five years ago. Born to a European father and South African mother, Trevor draws on his mixed-race heritage, experiences growing up in the townships of Soweto, and his observations about race and culture as themes in his critically-acclaimed comedy routine. Considered the hottest export coming out of South Africa today, Trevor made his US television debut on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and toured the US with stand-up comedian Gabriel Iglesia. Trevor just completed his London debut at the Soho Theater with a sold out four-week run of his acclaimed show The Racist.

Sarkodie

International Hip-Hop Star

Ghana

Twitter Handle: @Sarkodie

Followers: 133,672

Heralded as the fastest rapper in Africa, Sarkodie is affiliated with Akon’s Konvict Musik label, and is now a firm fixture in international music circles. A recording artist, entertainer and brand ambassador, Sarkodie won a BET Award in 2012 for Best International Act, and was awarded with the Ghana Music Award Artist of the Year twice. With a furious flow likened to Busta Rhymes, and flowing between Twi (his native Ghanian language) and English, he is considered by many as one of the leading pioneers behind the international music genre–and subsequent dance craze–Azonto.